The leafy Georgian streets of Bloomsbury were shaken up in the 1930s by a new wave of development, from great academic institutions to speculative flats for modern urban living, plus probably the most stylish car showroom in London. We'll explore the range of 1930s architectural styles used in some famous and not so famous buildings, and even take a peek inside where we can.

Architecture studio Klaud leads a tour of the Soho Photography Quarter and The Photographers’ Gallery's refurbished ground floor, which has been redesigned to connect to this new public space that features a 45m ‘Artfrieze’ at the core of a curated public art programme.

Klaud (formerly ALA), 2021

London is the world's first National Park City, and our visitors centre at 80 Mortimer Street is the entry point to hundreds of places to visit and things to do across a greener, healthier and wilder London.

The University of Westminster was one of the first polytechnics in the UK – established in 1838, to educate the working people of London, regardless of background and financial status. Housed in the building is the Regent Street Cinema, widely regarded as the ‘birthplace of British cinema’, with the first public premiere of film in the UK by the Lumière Brothers using the Cinématographe in 1896.

James Thompson, 1848

The Smallest Gallery in Soho is a historic shop-front which faces onto 62 Dean Street, in the heart of Soho. The aim of this creative space is to display artwork that captures people’s attention on their journey through Soho and encourage them to stop, think and be inspired. The art displays are only to be viewed from the street and can be seen at any time of the day for free.

, 1911

First ever purpose-built broadcast centre in UK, and a jewel of Art Deco design with original artworks by sculptor Eric Gill. Remodelled and extended in 2006/2013 by architects MacCormac Jamieson and Prichard/Sheppard Robson.

G Val Myer, 1932

Bloomsbury holds the densest concentration of museums, universities, and libraries in London, housing an array of objects and spaces for teaching and research. These institutions' architecture has structured knowledge and shaped scholars’ experience over two and a half centuries – forming a built record of the values associated with learning from the Enlightenment to today's entrepreneurial knowledge economy.

Sydney Smirke, 1854

St Anne's embraces the historic tower (1811) in St Anne's Gardens with hand wound clock, Allen Room with stained glass windows and ornate ceiling (1910), modern church (1990) and award winning entrance (2016). Entrance on Dean St.

William Talman/ Christopher Wren, 1686

The area post 1700 became very cosmopolitan with immigrants mainly from Europe and their influence on food and drink became increasingly important. This tour is based on food and drink, passing by restaurants, pubs, coffee bars and pâtisserie delis that have been present for decades, finishing at a relatively new site.

London’s tallest secular building when it opened as the HQ of the University of London and home to the Ministry of Information during WWII, this Grade II* listed landmark features Classicism and Art Deco elements.

Charles Holden, 1933

Built in a Renaissance style with high level Diocletian windows and a prominent grand cupola. In 2016 a new Fly Tower opened followed by remodelling of the auditorium in 2018 and the creation of a new basement space opened in 2022.

Bennetts Associates, 2022